A lot people just don't like change; that goes for NBA players, NFL, MLB and regular joes. If you complain enough about something or get enough people to complain about something that affects your job, then you too can get some things changed!

If a majority of the players think the new ball is no good, then I would think that they are probably right. Some idiots who don't have near the skill level of the pros, and don't have to use the ball to make their living, made the decision to change it. The ball is distributed to, and handled by, every player on the team more frequently in basketball than any other sport, why should they have to use one they don't like? And why should they not have input on any changes? I'm takin' The Big Aristotle's side on this one.

If someone came to your work and changed your computer system without asking you about it, I can guarantee you would all be crying about it. I've seen it happen at my office, with chairs. One day we come in to new chairs (which I actually liked) and a few people were threatening to quit by the end of the day. I now it sounds ridiculous but its life. People have a natural tendency to avoid change at all costs.

Let's look at the real situation here. This is corporate greed at it's finest yet again. The ball wears out quicker, therefore you need to buy a new ball more often. For the pro's no big deal, the balls are free. For the kid on the street that wants to be in the show, that's another $75+ for Spalding with the NBA getting their cut. When I was a lad playing ball daily, I had a leather ball that was 4 years old and I loved it, the feel, the smell, and the price.

I think David Stern just likes to have controversy before the start of every season to get people talking about NBA, etc. Last year it was the dress code now this. He finds ways to remind these 20 yr old Millionaires who the real boss man is and that they can't do anything about it.

You can't blame Spaulding for wanting a world-wide monopoly on basketballs, but it does seem slightly riduculous that a basketball could wear to such a degree it had to be changed out during the course of a single game.